Netivot Residents: Shelters May Not Protect Us From Rockets
Southern City Finds Itself Within Range of Qassam Fire From Gaza. 'No One Has Instructed us on What We're Supposed to do in Case of an Attack,' Resident Says, 'The Kids Panicked During the Rocket Barrage'. Mayor: We Can Open All the Shelters in 15 Minutes

by Ilana Curiel
Ynet News
December 25, 2008

http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/535/netivot-residents-shelters-may-not-protect-us

Residents of Netivot, who have found themselves within the range of the continuous rocket fire emanating from Gaza, expressed concern over the condition of the bomb shelters in the southern city and fear they may not provide them with sufficient protection.

"The residents have access to secure spaces; we open the shelters only during an emergency. In case of further escalation we'll be able to open all the shelters within 15 minutes," he said.Following the recent escalation of violence in the South, the Netivot Municipality ordered the opening of the bomb shelters located in various public structures, including kindergartens, youth centers and synagogues, but locals said some of them remained closed.

"I don't think we are prepared for rocket fire," resident Arik Nitzan said. "My family does not own a key to any shelter, and no one has instructed us on what we're supposed to do in case of an attack. During yesterday's attack the kids panicked."

Arik's daughter Shir said she was at her neighbor's house during the barrage: "Everyone started crying. We aren't used to this; it came as a surprise. We ran outside; there is a shelter but it was locked."

Netanel Virutin said that in the absence of a shelter his family takes cover in the shower. "When the 'Color Red' alert system sounds we enter the shower, because the shelter serves as a synagogue and isn't always open," he said. "There is no time to run down to the shelter from the third floor, and if we try we may not have enough time to run back upstairs in case the shelter is closed."

Mayor Yehiel Zohar said that over the past six months the City has increased its preparations for times of emergency.

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